tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41300520420781609252014-10-05T00:29:19.803-07:00New Mexico Wilderness VoiceA Biblical Perspective on the News.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-41716641302062200142011-03-22T13:44:00.000-07:002011-03-22T13:44:25.499-07:00The Brazilian JobRemember the gulf oil spill last year? Who could forget, right? I have argued for some time now that President Obama is not as naive as he, on the surface, appears.In fact, what seems to be indecision, I believe to be calculation. The perception of&nbsp; many is that he is inexperienced or incompetent, when in truth, I hold that we are assuming he has the best interest of America in mind. That is not his aim, his aim is to reduce America's prominence to that equal to other nations. Look no further than the military action against Libya.<br />As to the oil spill, he waited a very long time to get involved in the crisis. About a month after it began, the president started to show signs of life. As it became an apparent environmental disaster, it was extremely easy for him to ban off shore drilling. This, of course, was the opportunity he needed to further reduce America's wealth and independence.<br />Forgive me for being conspiratorial here. I don't normally see a boogie man behind every event. There are, however, forces at work that we must be aware. I also don't see George Soros as the center of the evil <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1595551034&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>universe. But he is a big part of what is going on in the world, by his own admission. It has been confirmed that Mr. Soros was and is behind the turmoil in the Middle East and as a result, the subsequent rise in oil prices.<br />It also appears that he has interests in the Brazilian oil industry. Is it then an accident that during the gulf crisis last year that very act of setting up the drilling moratorium freed up the drilling platforms now bringing in the oil for Brazil to sell to us at a premium, that the president is now negotiating for us. The President of the United States is achieving his goal of reducing America's role on the world stage in all areas. Before long the left will realize its hope of eliminating the only remaining super power. Thus setting the stage...Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-19862756919138653582011-02-23T09:30:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:30:48.560-08:00Wars and rumors of wars<blockquote>Being a news "addict", I was listening to the news on the drive from Magdalena to Socorro. It struck me that the news I was hearing fell in line with Matthew 24 starting in verse 4; <i>And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.<br />“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.</i></blockquote>What I heard on the news was this; wars in Libya and the middle east and Africa, Athens and many rumors such as Saudi Arabia. Earthquakes in New Zealand and Cocoa shortages and oil shortages just to name a few. I looked at the Albuquerque Journal, their headlines were much less upsetting. They were concerned that baseball fans were getting beer, but that basketball fans were left out. Going to Drudge, the wars and rumors of wars were there, along with excitement about oil prices. I was very tempted to read the article about the 400lb woman who attacked someone for taking her cookie. I refrained. There was also a report that the obesity problem has spread to over half our pets. I hope the first lady is on top of that one, so to speak.<br /><br />I find that our hearts can grow cold all too easily. We do need some humor and light-hearted stories to keep from going as daffy as Gaddafi. So, I return once again to the gospel. Jesus stated in this same set of verses quoted above, that this gospel must be preached to all the earth. That brings a lightness to my heart, a ray of sunshine in a time of great darkness. There is a plan for good and the Lord is waiting until all who will receive Him, do so.&nbsp;Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-76025308142598998812011-02-22T09:28:00.000-08:002011-02-22T09:28:53.256-08:00Are you prepared to shine the light?As turmoil engulfs the middle east and many totalitarian dictatorships come to an end, we should not be taken by surprise by such event or the forces at work behind the scenes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SEyyw0b31I/TWPtWDSL4iI/AAAAAAAAABk/7YzDY_gia0g/s1600/r4066849360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SEyyw0b31I/TWPtWDSL4iI/AAAAAAAAABk/7YzDY_gia0g/s320/r4066849360.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>Currently, Libya, is the main focus of news reports and leaders attentions. While their is no love lost for the old dictator, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110222">Muammar Gaddafi</a>, many countries, such as <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110222/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_medvedev">Russia</a>, are worried about the long term future of the region. We can see the hands of many like minded parties at work in these countries and here at home. There are <a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&amp;pageId=266401">individuals</a>, <a href="http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE71L0DW20110222?sp=true">companies</a> and <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703800204576158851079665840.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories">political parties</a> determined to create change. I am certainly not a fan of Gaddafi, but we are trading for something much more sinister.<br /><br />None of this should be a surprise to the christian. The bible plainly warns that a one world government supported if not integrated by a religious system contrary to the Lord would arise in the last days. We are also warned not allow these events to take us unaware. In the New Testament we are given the parable of the ten virgins and the thief in the night as a picture of how we should be ready for the Lord's return.<br /><br />It is tempting to get caught up in the day to day events, but we will called to be light in this time of darkness. The Word of God is clear when it talks of the last days. We should live lives that are holy and obedient to the Lord. Paul warned us that we should not be ignorant that we should be overtaken as a thief in the night, and Jesus warned that we should be able to discern the signs of the times. Why? To be ready of course. We must be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within us. We must be ready to share the gospel and the lifestyle of the narrow way. The forces of anti-christ are at work all around us. But, do not be afraid. God has called us to be the light in spite of what the enemy is up to. There is hope as long as God extends His grace.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-77585026806279970582010-10-21T14:43:00.000-07:002010-10-21T14:43:55.794-07:00Gotta Love PC (not personal computers)Political correctness (PC) has once again reared its ugly head. In the last week, we have learned that it was not muslims who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, but more specifically muslim extremists (or muslim radicals) (or muslim fundamentalists). Anyway, it was certainly not muslims. In fact, I don't think we are even able to insinuate that males of middle eastern decent were in any way involved.<br />I have had the privilege of knowing many people of various religions and ethnic backgrounds. I agree with the PC crowd that as a religion, not all muslims should be lumped together. Yet, all Christians bear the blame of the Crusades according to these same people. Should not islam, like Christianity, be held accountable for it's more radical elements? If the tables were turned, would not the Pope be called upon to disavow a destructive sect of Christianity? My point is that we are splitting hairs when we come down on people for using the term muslim or muslim extremist.<br />That brings us to the current uproar created by Bill O'Reilly, the View and now Juan Williams. Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar walked out on O'Reilly during the View last week, because he was unwilling to qualify his remarks when referring to the attackers. The PC police now view as bigotry the classification of our attackers as muslim. The fact that they were muslim is beside the point. And now Juan Williams is being fired from NPR because he feel uncomfortable if he encounters people wearing middle eastern clothing.<br />I have a simple observation. If we are made uncomfortable by a person's dress or religion, should the members of said group go to greater efforts to improve their standing in the eyes of the public? If we react negatively to a specific group of people, maybe there is a reason. Maybe said group has caused fear. The term terrorist comes to mind. These groups identify themselves as muslim and as terrorists. That is why we now view them in this fashion.&nbsp;<br />Before Whoopi and Joy walk off next time, maybe they should consider that many people in the muslim world are working quite hard to create fear and intimidation<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1935071122&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> among Americans. While they do not represent all muslims, they are not shouted down either. If the so-called moderates are unwilling to oppose the fundamentalists in any significant way, it signals to the world that they do not oppose them after all. If they do not oppose the radicals it tells us that they are not perceived as radicals and therefore part of mainstream islam.<br />&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp;Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-17423618884049123302010-07-29T12:13:00.000-07:002010-07-29T12:13:53.019-07:00Is Socialism a Christian Idea?It is a legitimate question, is socialism a Christian idea? On the surface a case could be made that the teachings of Jesus and the examples of the bible lend themselves to the socialist ideal. What should be understood is that Christianity, at its core, is far removed from the teachings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx">Karl Marx</a>.<br /><br />Christianity holds that individuals are personally responsible for their actions. The bible teaches that if a man will not work, he should not eat. The Word also teaches that a man should not steal but work with his hands so that he will have his own money to give and use for the glory of God.&nbsp; <br /><br />Socialism, on the other hand, holds that those who own or operate businesses and corporations are exploiting the working class and should have their wealth taken and given to others. This Star Trek reality sounds great, but denies the reality of the sin nature.<br /><br />Often the book of Acts is quoted as biblical support for communism. Again, on the surface, the account in Acts appears to sanction the redistribution of wealth, but upon closer examination we find that it was not the Roman or Israeli governments that took the possessions of&nbsp; new believers. It was a personal choice made by the individual to give and even sacrifice to God the things they had been blessed with to the poor. The apostles plainly explain that the property still belonged to the people who gave it.<br /><br />In stark contrast, when the government takes the property of the people it enriches the government not the poor. It also gives the government greater power and influence over the people it claims to help. This creates the opportunity for tyrants and dictators to seize such power. Of course, this allows a system to be in place for the ultimate dictator, the anti-christ.<br /><br />Jesus taught that we would always have the poor. If we adhere to the Word of God, we find that we are to provide for those with less. We must set aside from our blessings, blessings for others. We should not consume all the Lord has given us, but rather give from our abundance. It is by God's grace we are able to work hard and give well. Abundance comes from these qualities not from taking. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but God gives all that He has that we might live.<br />&nbsp;Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-83236369086506563942010-07-20T14:05:00.000-07:002010-07-20T14:05:32.503-07:00To promote and support deathIt is apparent that progressive (liberal, communist, socialist) mindset is founded on the principle that life hold little intrinsic value (unless of course, it is your life we are talking about). We have many in our country who profess a christian worldview but actually hold to a humanist worldview. Their source of inspiration is not the Word of God, but rather the teachings of men like Karl Marx, Nietzsche, Charles Darwin and others.<br />Population control is a big part of the equation. Humanism, evolution and global warming are combined into a deadly pseudo- religion that requires that only the fittest and most valuable should be allow to live. At the core of this thought is abortion. The evil that is abortion is encouraged and promoted at every turn. I have pointed this out before. The goal is to control the human population because most of the populace is mere cattle anyway.<br />This is why it is unimportant for the president to keep his word regarding the public funding of abortion. The backtracking we see now is, of course, an effort to retain power until it can be fully taken.<br />The president and his minions are promoting abortion worldwide, even to his home country of Kenya. When we take a closer look at his agenda in Kenya, it becomes clear what his agenda is in the US and worldwide. He is influencing changes to the constitution of Kenya to allow leniency in abortion law and to give place to islamic sharia law.<br />It is plainly obvious that forces are at work even here in the US to give place to islamic radicals. From parades to plans to build near the site of ground zero, we are under attack and so are our children. Be careful, if we are lulled to sleep again, we will find that euthanasia has become common place. There are promotions under way for assisted suicide, encouraging the aged and infirmed (and their caretakers) to end the drain of our society. This is what Germany chose before the chancellor fired up the death camps. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-18244524224940300492010-07-09T11:18:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:36:38.710-07:00Privite vs Public, Will Freedom Win?, We have arrived at a crossroads of sorts. In the era of big government and the new new deal there is a small state with a larger than life conservative swimming against the mainstream. Governor Christie is moving his state away from conventional thought and proposing the <a href="http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/070910_Christie_looks_to_privatize_motor_vehicle_inspections.html">privatization</a> of many government strongholds.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wildern-20&amp;l=bil&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=1400162645" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1400162645&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>The national leadership would have us believe that increase spending would bring us into true recovery. History teaches us, however, that increased taxes and larger government combined with deficit spending puts the beaks on a possible recovery. FDR's economic policy allowed the Great Depression to continue years beyond the what the rest of the world experienced.<br />My state, like many others, has chosen not to reduce spending or taxes to encourage small business and rebuild the economy. Instead, the progressive (or liberal or as I prefer the spirit of anti-christ) leadership is more interested in promoting their agenda of enslavement to government. State and local governments are unwilling to make the cuts needed to bring things under control. As we have heard many times now, government employees make on average 40%-60% greater income than their civilian counterparts. But instead of cutting bloated salaries, they threaten the elimination of teachers, police and firefighters to make the cutbacks emotional.<iframe align="right" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0742515168&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />Liberty comes at a cost. Jesus paid the ultimate cost for our liberty and freedom. If we wish to see a resurgence of American liberty we must count the cost. We must be willing to do without government running so much of our lives.<br />We must begin to make the stand of saying no to larger government. Just as Gov. Christie has been willing to take a stand against what is expedient in favor of what is needed. At what cost is our freedom? Does it mean enough to us to allow it to win?Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-82952421391661286752010-07-07T08:26:00.000-07:002010-07-07T08:26:25.014-07:00Trust in the LordAs a bivocational pastor time is at a premium. I look at many of the headlines and stories of our society and want to comment on them all. The big headlines like the economy being at its worst since the 1930's with shanty towns springing up in places like Hawaii. I thought Hawaii was exempt from bad stuff, since it holds such beauty and all. Immigration. I think we have some very insane people who think we are all racist if we dare control our borders. I don't get it.<br />Then we have stories like the one I read on <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/07/01/when-feminism-kills-abortion-as-the-lesser-evil/">Albert Mohler</a> about a woman who believes that live starts at conception, but sees the rights of women to be greater than the rights of the children they bear. I don't believe this requires much discussion because evil is apparent and is it's own commentary. My point is this, if I allow the wickedness of this world to consume me, I would be lost. I must trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding. My hope is not in the government or even men and women, but the Lord. I would hope that more people would trust the Lord and walk in His ways, obeying His commands. This world would be the better for it.<br />Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain. We must remain true to Him. Anything else is foolishness. Love never fails. God never fails. He is at work even now. We can trust Him.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-48479791070615364182010-07-02T21:38:00.000-07:002010-07-02T21:38:05.101-07:00Family, Faith and the FourthThe fourth of July. Is it just another excuse to eat to excess and indulge in our pyromaniac tendencies? Or is it a time to recognize our heritage and teach our values? On the day he signed the Declaration of Independence, John Adams made two insightful statements. First he said, <span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">“This day will be the most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” and second he said, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">“It ought to<span> </span>be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">I am a big believer in parents teaching their children biblical and by extension American values. I love the 4th of July. Sure we get together and eat hamburgers and hot dogs, and we definitely lite fireworks. We should strive, however, to make it something more, maybe something precious. The Lord has always intended for us to teach the next generation what is good and right. In order to teach the things, we must learn the truth. We need to learn what the Word of God says. We also need to learn correct history. We need to learn our story.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">When is the last time, as a family, we read and discussed the constitution of the United States of America or the Declaration of Independence? The truths in these documents can have such a profound impact on the way we view our lives.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">Consider this line from the Declaration of Independence; </span>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.<span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva;">Who do we serve, the Creator or the government? When we return to the foundations of our country we are reminded of the source of our rights and it is not the legislature, the judiciary, or even the president. Take some time this Sunday to take the family to church and remind yourself and them of who we are as a nation in Christ Jesus.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span> &nbsp;Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-35057123407937442662010-07-01T09:35:00.000-07:002010-07-01T09:35:02.353-07:00Kamikaze Corporations and The RegimeOk, I have my foil cap firmly in place. As I was getting caught up on the news last night, hearing for the umpteenth time about British Petroleum's contributions to the Obama campaign. And I was mildly roused about BP's green initiative prior to the spill. I remember that ad campaign. As I listened to these things, my memory was stirred. I remembered hearing a very similar story not even two months ago. Remember Goldman Sachs? When we were discussing the terrible financial mess and Goldman Sachs was the bad guy then. They too were big supporters of the Obama and very committed to the green movement. You would think that both of these companies would get a pass and some conservative company or companies would be blamed instead.<br /><br />Both of these crisis situations have as their end, legislation. Legislation that increases the government's authority, power and size. Both <a href="http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/03/alinsky-fan-clinton-tells-europeans-never-waste-a-good-crisis/">Saul Alinsky</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yeA_kHHLow">Rham Emanuel</a> have been quoted as saying "never let a crisis go to waste". But what if you don't have time to wait for a 'good' crisis. What if an election is on the horizon and the window of opportunity is quickly closing.<br /><br />Here it is. Could it be possible that corporations aligned with progressive thought, have made the deliberate choice to sabotage their chosen industry and fall on their own swords for the "greater good". Before the muslims, there were the Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze">kamikaze</a>, a philosophical descendant of the banzai. The central tenant of these tactics was, out of desperation, the use of suicide or near suicide to wreak great psychological and physical damage. The end game is to bring about a radical change.<br /><br />Jesus pointed out in John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to <b>steal</b>, and to <b>kill</b>, and to <b>destroy</b>. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." The end game for the Lord is life, not death. We have a choice, what is yours.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-24526808012456445012010-06-30T09:50:00.000-07:002010-06-30T10:30:51.288-07:00The Devil is in the DetailsSurprise, Surprise the <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/38013729">job stimulus</a> has not been effective. I wonder why. Could it be that big government is always a drain on the economy and that government spending never stimulates the economy? Contrary to the teachings of most economists it is the people free of government encumbrances seeking the blessing of God that revive an economy.<br />When a people or country throw off the yoke of tyranny and seek the Lord, economic prosperity will be the result. Each of the historic eras of prosperity (the 20's, 50's, 80's) were preceded by dramatic reductions in the size of and spending of the government and taxation and regulation of the people. There is nothing new in any of this. It is well understood and proven. So why do we insist on pursuing the course we are on, regardless of the historic record. We are not fighting flesh and blood. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle. No, really, we are.<br />Do you really think that Satan and the spirit of antichrist are interested in the welfare of mankind? Are they looking to increase freedom, liberty and our quality of life? I rather doubt it. The stated goal of the enemy is the enslavement or destruction of all mankind. Don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that the president and certain members of congress are in league with the devil. No. What I am saying is that their worldview, their understanding of how things work, are based on principles espoused by ungodly or demonically influenced men and women.<br />Do a little of your own research. The teachings of Marx, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Nietzsche">Nietzsche</a>, Darwin, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky">Alinsky</a> and many others have influenced our current leadership. Even as Europe moves away from these policies, we embrace them. These ideas are in stark contrast to the scripture witch states we should not covet the belongings of others. Of course, the word also states we should not lie or steal either.<br />The devil is in the details.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-83226343150020139052010-06-29T06:19:00.000-07:002010-06-29T06:19:33.965-07:00These Little Ones<i>"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."</i> Matthew 18:6<br /><br />In <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/06/25/how-young-is-too-young-for-condoms/">Provincetown, Mass.</a> they have to reassure us that they are not indeed handing out condoms to 7 year old children, only middle school kids. Whew, what a relieve. Only 11 and 12 year old children are being told its ok to have premarital sex. Every thing is fine.<br />Maybe I'm starting to get old. Maybe, I am just a conservative baptist preacher, too close minded to understand. I don't know. Maybe, the Provincetown, Mass.school district is selling evil as good. This does not require much in depth commentary. Adultery and fornication are still sin. God's word and commandments clearly teach that sexual relations outside of a committed marriage is wrong and destructive. We all know that, even the progressives know that.<br />My solution is simple and straight forward. Elect new leadership in Provincetown, Mass. and change the policy. The only question that remains is do the people of God have the will to do what is needed to change these things? Does their biblical worldview cause them to do what is right. It is our fault that these people are in power, it is up to us to exchange the ungodly for the godly.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-2335937188287612992010-06-28T05:59:00.000-07:002010-06-28T05:59:48.221-07:00Faith, Hope and Charity<i>And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.</i> 1 Corinthians 13:13<br /><br />I enjoy watching Glenn Beck. It is like getting a refresher on what I learned in high school. I know a lot of people say they never learned most of what he goes over. But I did. My mom sacrificed and sent me to a very conservative baptist high school. One of the things they had us do a lot of, was memorize scripture. Being a fundamental baptist school, the bible of choice was the King James version. So every time Glenn asserts his view that what our country needs is faith, hope, and charity, the first words out of my mouth are "these three; but the greatest of these is charity".<br />I have a great love for the founding fathers. I also love the sermons of George Whitefield and Johnathon Edwards. I believe that if we want to see an example of a society based on Christian ideals we need look no further than that generation. I think it is good and right to look at these men and women as the template of good and free America. But we must be careful. These were just men. They, themselves, would likely discourage us from putting our hope in them. Because we must look to their source.<br />The greatest of these is love. That is how it is translated today. Remember, that God is love. That is why even as we look to restore these three attributes, we must turn to God. Who do we put our faith in? The Lord. Where does our hope lie? The Lord. And who must we love with all that we are? The Lord. We should study our history and learn from it. What I feel is more important, however, is to study the Word of the Lord. How can we ever hope to gain our nation once more if we do not understand the principles that will allow us to build a firm foundation. Just reading the Word is not enough. We must use it to develop right doctrines or principles to live by. It must be internalized and meditated on to change us. Above all else, we must first be changed by the living Word, by placing our trust in Him. This must be personal or it will never be national.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-84774780535402302782010-06-26T11:00:00.000-07:002010-06-26T15:14:46.240-07:00Looking ahead while using the rear view mirror<i><b>Editor’s note:</b> I have found that blogging on a regular basis is very difficult to maintain. Because the subjects I write about are very important, I feel it necessary to renew my commitment to keep this blog updated more often. I do apologize for the irregular intervals of my updates and look forward to adding new posts more often. And now the new post.</i><br /><br /><br /><b>Looking ahead while using the rear view mirror</b><br /><br />Last week I attended the funeral of my wife’s uncle Ben. Funerals, of course, are a time for reflection. This was no exception. The priest did something interesting this time however; he did a little <a href="http://www.ancestry.com/">genealogical research</a> on Ben’s family. I’ve always found genealogies intriguing, but only pay them passing attention. I quickly realized that as a pastor and amateur historian, genealogies create a way for us to connect to history. John 10:10 Jesus says, “the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress">thief</a> has done a lot of stealing over the years he has taken our <a href="http://www.wallbuilders.com/">history</a> and <a href="http://www.heritage.org/">our roots</a>. He has stolen our understanding of the founding fathers. In so doing, he has stolen our national identity and destroyed a way of life.<br /><br />&nbsp;In 2 Timothy 1:3-10, the apostle Paul reminds Timothy of his heritage of his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois who both brought him up in the word of the Lord.&nbsp; We should remember that our founding fathers, although not perfect, were in most cases God-fearing Bible believing Christians. Their vision of this country was that of a <a href="http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=44">Christian nation</a>. That never meant an exclusively Christian nation, but a nation dedicated to Christian principles nonetheless.&nbsp; I should point out, that contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with this point of view.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/141032/2010-Conservatives-Outnumber-Moderates-Liberals.aspx">Recent polls</a> show that the majority of Americans are both conservative and Christian. While we should never exclude the views and opinions of the minority, the will of the people may still be expressed. For whatever reason, America has become a nation ruled by the minority rather than the majority. It is time once again for the majority to become active in how its government is operated. For far too long “Christians” have allowed in leadership, men and women who do not share their stated values. It is time once again to search out leaders that hold Christian values, have integrity, and are willing to lead by the courage of their convictions.<br /><br />It is <a href="http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=51">time</a> once again to tell the stories of our families and our ancestors. We tell the stories not only for our children but for ourselves. We need to be reminded of who we are, this is how we develop a national identity. We must be willing to shut off the television and spend some time with our children and our spouses to read our <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">Bibles</a> to share our points of view and maybe even read the <a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html">Constitution</a>. When we do these things would develop in ourselves something greater.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-92142110858358298092010-06-11T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-11T16:50:44.434-07:00American Patriotism<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Joshua 4:6</b>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">mean</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to you?’&nbsp;</span> Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Next Monday (June 14) is <a href="http://www.nationalflagday.com/default.asp">flag day</a>. <a href="http://www.usflag.org/history/oldglorystory.html">Flag</a> day is a memorial of the day congress approved the stars and stripes as our standard. I bring this up because Dewey Moedey of <a href="http://mykkim.com/">KKIM</a> asked me today; "What has happened to patriotism in America?" This question should give us pause.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">I believe there are forces at work to undermine our national identity. America (and by extension, it's flag) is unique in the pages of history. Due to an ongoing effort to remove Christianity from our founders and our history, it has become necessary to extinguish the Spirit that accompanies our patriotism.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams">John Adams</a> believed that the fourth of July should become a religious holiday, a day when we remembered God's hand in deliverance and day of religious activities when we committed ourselves to Him in "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=1595230327&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>His <a href="http://www.masshist.org/adams/biographical.cfm">son</a> and sixth president of the United States, <a href="http://www.masshist.org/jqadiaries/">John Quincy Adams</a>, asked; "Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?"&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Patriotism (not to be confused with nationalism) at its best, is exemplified by selflessness. Have you ever wondered why the phrase is 'God and country'? When we seek the Lord and His kingdom, we lay aside self. We set aside the "me first" attitude and we love the Lord and then others. Christian patriotism seeks create a better country for all to live as equals. That is why the motto for the American revolution was "No King but King Jesus" and "Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God".&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The American spirit flows from the Holy Spirit. If we want to see patriotism return, we must as a nation, return to God. The bible tells us to not seek what is best for us over what is best for others, but rather look to the needs of others first and then ourselves. How much better would the world around us become, if we lived that way. Raise your flags this weekend as a reminder of how Americans should live. Tell your children of the sacrifices made for our freedom. If you don't know any stories, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-History-United-States/dp/1595230327?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=wildern-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">find them</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wildern-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=1595230327" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. When you tell them, point out the moral. Turn off the TV more and share what is good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Happy Flag Day!&nbsp;</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span>Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-38800436531686149202010-06-08T09:18:00.000-07:002010-06-08T09:24:15.420-07:00Life or Death?The death penalty. Greater thinkers than I have tackled this issue. I wonder, does this require great thinking, or is this just a case of right and wrong. Genesis 9:6 says; Whoever sheds man’s blood,By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. This is a straight forward principle, that <a href="http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/home.aspx">life is precious</a> because God created it. So precious, in fact, that God requires life for life.<br />I had always wondered why those opposed to the death penalty, also happened to be in favor of abortion. Until I looked at it from a spiritual point of view, it baffled me. Individual lives are important. Regardless of class or financial status, every individual is important to God. Death and life are closely linked. We could not have life without our death penalty being paid in full by God.<br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0978605268&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>That brings us to the latest <a href="http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1593346.shtml?cat=513">discussion</a>. Michael Astorga was found <a href="http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1590897.shtml">guilty</a> of first degree murder of <a href="http://www.officer.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&amp;id=52773">Bernalillo County Deputy James McGrane</a>, guilty on two counts of tampering with evidence and guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.The candidates for governor have taken their positions on this issue, but <a href="http://www.dianedenish.com/home">Diane Denish</a> states that she will enforce the law if the jury decides to give Astorga the death penalty.<br />When November comes and goes and should the Lt. Governor become the <a href="http://www.governor.state.nm.us/index2.php">Governor</a>, will this position change? I can not write to the heart and mind of someone else. Let me just observe that life should be sacred for us. Christians should always understand that the Lord hears the cries of those whose lives are taken. The murder of Able makes this plain. He has given us a principle to live by, namely, if you take a life, your life will be required of you.<br />We can argue about the deterrent, we can argue about God's love and mercy, and we can argue about the humanity of the death penalty. If a people decide that life is so very precious that it's value is held in high esteem, I believe we would rarely use such punishment because we would have fewer murders. We should not allow our standards to be so eroded, that human life is worthless. The question remains, is the life of James McGrane worth the death of Michael Astorga?<br /><br />Give a listen, Saturday's 8:30am on KKIM 1000 AM or on the <a href="http://www.mykkim.com/">internet</a>.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-67156995503146889432010-06-04T10:27:00.000-07:002010-06-08T10:58:13.221-07:00No Sovereignty for Israel EitherThe subject of national sovereignty rears its head once again. This time we are not talking about the<a href="http://nmwildernessvoice.blogspot.com/2010/05/imperialism-of-illegal-immigration.html"> US southern border</a>, but the borders of <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703340904575284644206367262.html">Israel</a>. Now I understand that in the eyes of many people and even nations, Israel does not have the right to exist. In fact, there have been a few <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/10/26/ahmadinejad/">heads of state</a> that view the destruction of Israel as their life's work.<br />The real question is does Israel or any nation have a right to even have borders? Have we reached a point in global governance when nations no longer have the right to protect their sovereign borders? We may have even arrived at a point in history when nations can not even pass laws to use to govern.<br />The only reason anyone has a problem with the IDF boarding a ship that crosses a legal blockade, is that it is Israel that did it.<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=wildern-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=bpl&amp;asins=0060594640&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />None of this is surprising, of course, Israel has been the red headed step child since it's inception. The bible clearly predicts this to be true. The nation of Israel and it's land (and water) will always be a stumbling block, because the Lord has made it so. It will continue to remind the world that the God of Israel is the one, true God, Amen.<br />I believe this issue of national sovereignty both in America and Israel is rooted in a desire to undermine or even destroy two nations that make a claim to the same God.<br />The world and its leaders instinctively know that to bring down the United States and Israel, is to defeat the Lord.<br />The root of all this goes back many thousands of years. It always leads to a choice, do we choose life or death.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-50469811572724091492010-05-27T09:42:00.000-07:002010-05-27T09:44:50.442-07:00Above or Below the Law<span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><em>The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.</em></span> Daniel 4:26-27<br /><br /><br />King Nebuchadnezzar learned a lesson few rulers and politicians are blessed with learning. The lesson that God is real and that He does indeed rule over all kings. Our prosperity may seem to be due to our industrious nature, our commitment to hard work, and even our ingenuity and innate goodness. In fact, while these are good traits to possess, it is the Lord that gives us prosperity. In the United States, we elect our rulers from among our citizens. They serve at the pleasure of the people and are subject to the Constitution and its subordinate laws. It has become common place that our leaders feel that they are above the law and that few, if any are answerable to anyone, let alone God or the people. Take the current situation with Rep. <a href="http://sestak.house.gov/">Joe Sestak's (D-Pa.)</a>, the congressman has made the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/05/joe-sestak-karl-rove-chris-dodd-george-w-bush.html">allegation</a> that he was offered the office of the <a href="http://www.navy.mil/secnav/index.asp"><span id="goog_357248403"></span>Secretary of the Navy<span id="goog_357248404"></span></a> in exchange for his dropping his run for the senate. The <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">white house</a>, as white houses before them, is throwing up walls and is unwilling to share what it did and who was involved. News outlets are starting to call this <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/100067-issa-sestak-scandal-could-be-obamas-watergate">Obama’s Watergate</a> and I am sure gate will be attached to this thing sooner later as always seems to happen. What is sad is that this already sounds familiar. The Former <a href="http://www.illinois.gov/gov/">governor of Illinois</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich">Rod Blagojevich</a>, knows all too well how the wheeling and dealing of a senate seat can effect ones career, but I seem to remember the white house denying any involvement in that affair as well. My point is not that the truth will come out at some point. I believe that anyone can be redeemed, including our politicians. If we are willing to humble ourselves and acknowledge the Lord, if we are willing to renounce our sins, God can and will redeem and heal us. The question remains, will we choose Him and His ways, will we openly defy the true and living God of creation?<br /><br /><em>At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.</em> Daniel 4:34Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-28588217379980153522010-05-21T11:26:00.000-07:002010-05-21T12:11:13.067-07:00The Not-So Itsy Bitsy SpiderIt is time for a lite hearted post. Last night after some blogging and other such stuff, I decided to go to bed. At 1am, I am a little groggy and the eyesight plays tricks at that time of night when you've got some milage on you (I, of course, have). I was trying to be quiet, because my lovely wife was sleeping soundly (as we all should be at 1am). As I entered our bedroom, I thought I saw movement. I realized that a rather large spider was crawling along the bedspread at the foot of the bed. This spider was larger than a silver dollar with thin legs and a large center. I watched as it made its way to the edge and hid under the show pillow on my side. I hoped I could find it again as I picked up a book and prepared to pounce. As I moved the pillow, the spider made run across the bedspread and headed toward the head of the bed. Remember, my wife, my beautiful and sleeping wife? Well, she was still asleep and oblivious to arachnid making a beeline for her very open mouth. With much haste and concern, I stopped the progress of my new nemisis, swatting it with a smaller pillow, knocking it to the floor and splatting it with the book.<br />Hope you don't mind the absence of political and religious writing.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-14269437869031996672010-05-20T21:27:00.000-07:002010-06-08T11:00:23.689-07:00The Imperialism of Illegal ImmigrationI read an <a href="http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2010/05/az-law-follows-past-unjust-attempts-to-deny-rights/">Eric Griego </a>today that I found most confusing. Mr. Griego compares the Arizona immigration law to the struggles of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_%281955%E2%80%931968%29">African Americans</a>, <a href="http://www.ushmm.org/">Jewish Americans</a> and the plight of black South Africans during <a href="http://www.africanaencyclopedia.com/apartheid/apartheid.html">apartheid</a>. Not only is this grossly inaccurate, it doesn’t even track.<br />I can agree that our nation has been guilty of sinful behavior and I would never try to defend the evils of myself or my forefathers, however, the point of spotlighting these tragic events and policies is only to associate our negative reactions and opinions with the current issue.<br />It is plain that the reason the state senator opposes any action against illegal border crossings has little to do with racial discrimination. Senator Griego, President Obama and President Calderon do not respect the sovereign borders of the United States. Mr. Calderon has been a guest in our country this week and took it upon himself to <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703691804575254443787708352.html?mod=fox_australian">chastise us</a> as “discriminatory”.<br />Our president, ashamed as usual, refused to defend our sovereignty and instead responded that he did not have the 60 votes in the Senate to correct the matter.<br />It is apparent that the spirit of anti-christ is at work in our world and looking to devour the world’s most visible Christian nation. This is not the first time that forces have been at work to destroy nations. The <a href="http://www.worldwar-2.net/prelude-to-war/prelude-to-war-index.htm">1930’s</a> saw the rise of three powers intent on world domination. Germany, Italy and Japan did not recognize the borders of sovereign nations and gave seemingly valid reasons for claiming those lands as theirs. Today, this same imperialism allows the citizens of one nation to cross into another nation with impunity.<br />It is now racism to question a person’s citizenship. For whatever reason, America is not allowed to stand up for its national rights. Even though the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf">in 2005</a>, upheld the right of local, state and federal law enforcement to verify without cause the citizenship status of any individual. We have every right to verify the status of anyone at anytime and just as it is with terrorism, certain ethnicities have a greater proclivity to certain behavior.<br />That is not racism, it is just true. I believe those claiming civil rights violations are just looking to capture the spot light or looking for some other personal or professional gain. Until, the drug wars started spilling over the border, it was easy to overlook this issue. Now, it is time to deal with the problem head on. We cannot allow the pc police to keep us from doing what is good and right.<br />I urge everyone who claims to be <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sbc.net/knowjesus/theplan.asp">Christian</a> to humble themselves and pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and the love of Christ to deal with this issue in a Godly manner. Pray for our leader, even if you disagree with them, lift them up in prayer. Let us deal honestly with our problem and not give away our sovereignty.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Muehler v. Mena, 544 U.S. 93. 2005 United States Supreme Court<br /></b>[1]An officer's authority to detain incident to a search is categorical; it does not depend on the “quantum of proof justifying detention or the extent of the intrusion to be imposed by the seizure.</span>Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-35578734635548810872010-05-19T21:45:00.000-07:002010-05-19T21:46:10.007-07:00DRCMF9CAG43KDRCMF9CAG43KPastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-40563429033382817462010-05-17T16:49:00.000-07:002010-05-17T17:44:34.765-07:00Government WorshipTwo articles I read recently have reminded me of a growing problem. Government taking the place of God. I can understand the allure. When times are tough we must turn to someone, somewhere. Food, housing, and other needs must be met. It seems good that our government should stand in the gap and provide these things and more. The reality, however, is that government can not and should not be our provider. The Lord provides (it is His name) what we need if we are willing to obey Him. Just as we are not to seek the services of a fortune teller to divine our future, God requires that we seek Him for our needs. He provides our daily bread. We have grown accustom to government acting as God. We return to the state for our needs and wonder why it is not well with our society. Then we are also suprised when our president acts as if he is above and unaccountable to the people or the press. It is time to humble ourselves and pray the Lord will bless us as we trust Him fully. This is not a popular stand to take, but it time to take it.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-55893206782998302722010-04-16T09:14:00.000-07:002010-04-16T09:56:32.943-07:00The Coming StormI am not a pesimist by nature. I am, however, a realist. I see many good things in the world around me. I thank the Lord every day for His blessings and His grace and His mercy to me the most undeserving of men. God is good, all the time. I believe there is a day coming that will be very good indeed. Before that day arrives, I know that there will be tough days to come. Does that mean that we hide our heads and just allow those days to happen. We must resist evil in all its forms at all times. As long as we are in this present time we have an obligation to come against the enemy and his plans. Many christians hold the belief that we are in the last days. I agree with this point of view. I do not believe that we should isolate ourselves and our families. The Word of God tells us to gather more often as we see the Day approaching. We should have lamps lit to light the way. We need to proclaim the gospel and stand against what is against the Lord and His ways. I know dark days are coming. I am realistic. But when is light the most visible?Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-3915129311857663102010-03-30T09:55:00.000-07:002010-03-30T10:49:45.192-07:00Contrast Obama and WashingtonHere is a bonus post. I read an <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303410404575152110331938210.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories">article</a> in the WSJ about President Obama being more "aggressive" in his dealings with opponents. I would call on Mr Obama to recall the honor of the office he holds and find the humility that is lacking in his demeanor. I suppose by saying this, I too, am lacking humility, but there it is. <br />By way of contrast I paste a letter from George Washington to make my point.<br /><br /><em>To the Hebrew Congregations in the cities of Philadelphia, New York, Charleston and Richmond.<br />Gentlemen,<br />The liberality of sentiment towards each other, which marks every political and religious denomination of men in this country stands unparalleled in the History of Nations. The affection of such a people is a treasure beyond the reach of calculation; and the repeated proofs which my fellow citizens have given of their attachment to me, and approbation of my doings, form the purest source of my temporal felicity. The affectionate expressions of your address again excite my gratitude, and receive my warmest acknowledgment. The power and goodness of the Almighty were strongly manifested in the events of our late glorious revolution; and his kind interposition in our behalf has been no less visible in the establishment of our present equal government. In war he directed the sword; and in peace he has ruled in our councils. My agency in both has been guided by the best intentions, and a sense of the duty which I owe my country. <br />And as my exertions have hitherto been amply rewarded by the approbation of my fellow citizens, I shall endeavor to deserve a continuance of it by my future conduct.<br />May the same temporal and eternal blessings which you implore for me rest upon your congregations. <br /><br />George Washington </em><br /><br />Not many of us write or speak this way anymore, but you get the point. A spirit of humility in government is needed. Mr Obama is the president of the entire United States of America, not just the parts he likes. While I understand that he has a set agenda, he is still <strong><em>our</em></strong> president. Should he only listen to the voice of those who share his point of view or is he held to a higher standard? The only one who can hold him to such a standard are God and the president. Congress doesn't have the will to do it and the people can't use their <a href="http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0310/to_a_tea_7861654c-f576-4cce-a912-ab0cd07ebcc7.html">voting power </a>for a while. Pray for our president, pray for humility.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4130052042078160925.post-77199655741090071302010-03-30T07:33:00.000-07:002010-03-30T08:27:12.928-07:00The Return of the Moral MajorityI won't be the first to suggest it. I am sure I won't be the last. Our founding fathers made it clear that the democratic republic known as the United States of America, could not survive an immoral majority of the people. A godless society cannot endure. History has proved this to be true time and again. It is from the general population that our leaders are derived. We can blame the political class all we wish, but if the populace is not moral, how can we expect our leadership to exceed its base. A political movement such as the tea party is good for a start, but it shall never fundamentally change the ideology that prevails in Washington. The reason there is very little true difference between the Democratic and Republican parties is because the spirit at their heart is the same in most cases. You can apply whatever biblical term you desire, the spirit of Anti-Christ, the spirit of the world, or whatever you wish, but the result is the same. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Without</span> the Holy Spirit, the end result is the same, less freedom. Guns and bombs will not change this spirit. It requires a change of the heart. Here is a novel suggestion, start with your own heart. Examine and judge yourself. Revival (and judgement) start with the house of the Lord. We will not see a change in our nation until we are willing to allow the Lord to change our own hearts. Suprisingly, (not really) the second law of thermodynamics applies to government. Unless another force (namely the Holy Spirit) acts upon an object (namely the government) it will in fact decay (become worse). The Holy Spirit will not move unless invited to do so. You wish to see the Lord move on this nation? It starts with you and me as individuals, then our families, then our communities and so on. America did not become the nation it is in a vacum. It is time for the return of the moral majority, not a political movement, but as a movement of the Holy Spirit. If we will humble ourselves and pray, then God will heal our land.Pastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14722417220138090777noreply@blogger.com0